Button-attaching machine.



G. H. T; HAGBLSTEIN. BUTTON ATTAGHING MACHINE.

, APPLICATION FILED OUT. 26, um.

Patented NOV. 4, 1913.

N 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

f m M Q Q & n T TTT; 1! W, I I f 1 \HN" ++-1 I I l ("H 1X) 5Wve/Moz G. H. T.-HAGELSTEIN. BUTTON ATTAGHING moms.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 26, 1912. 1,()77,6Q2 Patented Nov. 4, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED STATES germ FFIC.

CHRISTIAN H. T. naenns'rnm, or nonennsrnn, ss c UsE Ts. ASSIGNOR To THE mason BUTTON HOLE iviecnmn COMPANY, or BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A con,

.POBATION OF ewTTon-eTTAeHINe iv acninn.

. Specification of :Letters Intent.

Patented Nov. 4, 1913.

Application filedflctoherZG, 1912.. Serial X0. 727,880.

VQIlt8d;CQ1?tdl-.I1 new and useful Improvements P in Button-Attaching Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference-being fleet-ween the itoiination of the first and see- My invention relates to button attachingmachines and more particularly to that type of machine wherein a plurality .of shank had therein to the accompanying drawing.

eyed buttons .(snch as shoe buttons) are sewed successively and at spaced-apart points upon any given article such as a shoe; a prior example of that type of machine which may .be referred to for convenience being that illustrated in United States Patent 886,826, patented May 5., 1908.

Among the objects of the present im-,- provement are the production of a novel,' simple and direct-acting machine which may? operate at high speed and at the same time will be certain in its operation.

Another object s to provide such a inachine wherein the entrance of the spreader into the thread loopbelow the needle is rendered more certain.

Another object is to provide in a satistactoizy manner ail-auxiliary member or part adapted to preliminarily enter the thread loop below the needle and hold tliesame in proper position for thesubsequent accurate entry of the spreader.

Another object is to provide in such a.

machine a combined part which serves not only the purpose stated of p-IBhmHlfi-I'lly holding open the thread loop, hut-serves also as a backing member for-backing the needleagainst deflection, henjdingor breakage du ing any portion ofthe-operation suchias the. spreading of the loop, which impos s a.

bending strain upon the needle.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be described hereinafter or will be understood by those skilledin :the art to which the improvement per-:

1 attachmontofthe button. Fig. 15 IS a leftmachine illustratedin prior Patent Nod" 886.826 before referre to; inwhich type. c

machine a primary thread loop is first formed and. drawn through the eye of the button, fol-lowed by the formation of a sec- .ondary loop drawn through thefabric ad- 'jacent to the first. loop and then interlocked with the first loop by being drawn through ;it and thereat'ter spread over the head of the button; the work being automatically fed -ondiloop and also between the attachment of .the two successive buttons by means of a work feeding mechanism.

To the attainment of the objects hereinahove stated, the present invention consists lin the novel arrangements, combinations; parts, and other features illustrated in the drawings .or hereafter referred to in the description.

I will first dGSOIlbG one embodiment or employment of the present improveiiients and will tli'ereadter point out the novel features in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings vforming a part hereof, F gure 1 is a front elevation partly: in section of a button sewing machine enibogiying my .present improvements.

2 shows in left-hand elevation the machine of Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and a. are partial top views showing the needle bar and;

spreader bar in cross section and indicating the auxiliary loop opening and needle backing device and its operating cam in two successive positions. Fig. 5 is a partial top view showingthe 1100p spreader and spreader bar; Fig. 6 is a left-elevation showin the needle and the auxiliary part and in icating the spreader position at that stage in the attachment of a button when the secondany door; has been drawn upwardly and the auxiliary part has come into position for backingithe needle and for holding open the Secondary loop. Fig. 7 is afront viewcf the same parts and in the same positionas indicated in Fig. 6. Figs. 8 to lfl inclusive are views-similar to Fig. 6, showing successive positions of the partsr'eferred to up to the complete interlocking of the loops in the hand view of the auxiliary part hereof, detached from the remainder of the machine, while Fig. 16 is a top view,- and Fig. 17 is a front view thereof Fig. 18 is'a diagramillustrating the relative movements of the needle of the spreader,.and of the auxiliary part hereinafter referred to.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawing.

l I will first describe some of the general machine parts which are not new herein,

. work support B, mounted in a stan 2-, .6, and

but are well known in this type of .machine. Thus, the base A supports ahead A, shown-as a hollow casting containing cams, -etc.', the upperportion of sad head beingformed into a horizontally extending arm A which overhangs the sewing position. It should be explained that the work support B and the overhanging presscr foot C opposed thereto; and any :desired means may be employed for caus ng thesepa'ration of the work support and presser font at the "therethrough.

time that the. work has to be-fed during the process of attaching a row of buttons,

The main shaft Z maybe of ordinary arrange'ment and operation and will have secured upon it substantially all of the operatingcams of the machine. At the right-hand end of the main shaft is-seena pulley :3,

either loose or fast on the shaft and adapted to be continuously driven by'ja power belt:

also a hand wheel a to facilitate manual operation of the machine. Any ordinary clutch mechanism between pulley z and shaft Z may be employed.

In the machine towhich the present imp)rovements are shown as applied, the needle is of the type having a hook instead of an eye, it passing downwardly through the work from above to the point where the thread mechanism is located, and said hopk serving to draw a 100 up through the work and through the eye 0 the button, or through a previous loop as thecase-may be. The needle D is shown secured at the lower end of a needle bar D, which is fitted to slide vertically in 'the arm A and said needle may be reciprocated in any desired manner, for example, through bell crank d, Fig. 1,

link (l and arm (Z the latter having a pin.

which engages in. the cam slot of cam 03 mounted on the main shaft Z. It will be understood that the presser foot C is apertured or slotted at 0, which permits the passage of the needle and attached buttons For 'fe'eding along the work any convenient means may be employed, such, forexample, as the feeding prong shown in Patent No. 886,826, but as the work feeding mechanism per se forms no part of the present invention, the same for convenience is omitted herefrom. Similarly, any desired construction of thread mechanism may be emplo ed, and as that per se, forms no part needle will be understood, this being completely shown in the Patent'No. 886,826 refferred to; but as thecast-off would confuse the drawings illustrating the present improvement, the same is for convenience omit .ted from several figures, and 1s broken off in Figs. '1 and 2. .Where shown, 1t 15 indicated by reference H and the oscillating cast-off bar by reference H. Button feeding mechanism will be understood and it will be of a nature to feed buttons one at a time into proper relation to the needle for lthe'attachment successively of the buttons at spaced-apart points on the work. For clearness, the button feeding mechanism is entirely omitted. The contourand therefore the timing of all of the cams herein described will be such as to cause thedi'fierent 'instrumentalities to 'harmoniousl cooperate for forming the thread loops and interlocking them with. the'bnttons into attaching knots. 4

I will now describe the featuresto which, more particularly, c'laim of novelty =is -'he rein made and explain their 'codperation with the other parts of the machin The loop spreader-G, while it may take ,various forms, is shown as of the form indioated in Fig. 1 1n front vlew, Fig. 2 in left view, and Fig. 5 in' to view enlarged.

The spreader is carried at t e foot ofa vertical-axle or spreader bar G, capable of sufficient oscillation to permit the' swing of the spreader in a. horizontal plane inward to spreading position and outward to withdrawn position. The spreader is not mount ed directly upon the spreader bar, but upona short axle contained in a horizontal sleeve 9, so that the spreader point 9 can be tipped down at the proper time for shedding-the thread loop over the button head. The sleeve 9 holds the spreader axle in place and also serves for the attachment of spring 9 whose tendency is to hold the spreader in a horizontal position. The spreader point 9 is so located that when the spreader ar is swung the spreader point will pass-as near as may be directly between the two strands of thread forming the secondary loop held by the elevated needle. Any suitable means may be employed for oscillating the spreader bar from its-u p'e'r end, but the details of this will be ()mltled' as form ing no part, per se, of the present invention.

Attention, however, is. called to the cam groove 9 from which is effected the actuation of the train of mechanism which oseil lates the s reader bar and swings the" The further connections between the link 70 and the cam is on the shaft Z are omitted, as constituting, per 86, no part ofthe-present improvements.

The mechanism so far described mightrbe employa'ble for the attachment of buttons in the mode referred to. It has been found, however, that there is an uncertainty in the operation of a machine having only such described mechanism, in that frequently the spreader will not. accurately enter and spread the secondary loop, with the result that a defective knot o'r attachment is produced, which at least would require the stoppage of the reaching-its reversal and-a reop'eration-, While if not detected, the shoe or article under operation mightbe allowed to proceed, and when taken from the mitchine would be so defective as to require great loss of time in correcting the omission. The hooked needle in rising to draw thesecondary loop through the work holds the loop open into a sort of thread-eye of only very narrow breadth, equ'a'l at the most to the diameter of the needle, and. tapering to a smaller width by the approach of the two thread strands which meet at or above the work. In machines of this typethe'ne'edle is preferably elevated to a point considerably above the level of the spreaderls opera; tion, so that the s reader does; no-tget' the advantage of the 1111 width of the threade'ye, but must enter the same at' a point of smaller width; In addition to this difficulty,

itis also the fact that any slight displacement of the thread loop in any manner,

whether at the lower end or whether by the -cleformation or displacement of the needle,

will increase the inaccuracy of the spreaders operation; Moreover, the spreader that has been found of best utility in'such machine is one having a comparatively broad nose or point as shown, which decreases its ability to accurately enter the thread-eye, and any slight wear or displacement of the spreader Would increase the difiiculty. For these and other reasons,it has been found, as stated, that the spreader; occasionally misses the thread-eye, with the time-consuming and therefore expensive results noted.

According to the resent improvement, the difiiculties referre to are overcome by the combinationof the needle, spreader, and other parts referred to with an auxiliary or supplemental part, which may be termed a loop engage'r, which is adaptcdto engage in the eye of the thread loop carried by the needle and to hold'it in condition for the spreader to subsequently enter. Thisloop cngager not only preserves the thread-eye produced by the ne'e'dles diameter and holds the same open to its, full width at the level of the. engagcr, notwithstanding the further elevation of the needle, but the engager also properly positions the loop in a predetermined position wherein the spreader is bound to accurately enter; and where desired, the loop engager may be caused 'to somewhat enlarge the thread-eye by wedging' it open in advance of the entry of the spreader.

The supplemental part or loop engager L hereof is shown separately in Figs. 15 to 17 and is indicated in operative position in Figs. 6 and 7 Actually, it is the forward pointed tip M of the part L which engages in and holds and pos tions the thread-eye. Indeed, as will appear, the part L may be considered a combined part serving not only i to engage the thread-eye through the tip M, but also to back up or support the needle, through the needle backing portion N thereof. The combined part L is shown partly in dotted lines in Fig. 2, where it is seen to be pivoted at Z to a fixed part of the head A the: pivot being horizontal so that the part L may swing in a vertical plane, its lower extremity swinging forwardly and backwardly according to its actuation.

In order to keep the part L normally in the position indicated in Figs. 2 and. 10, it is provided with a rearward extension Z, to which is secured a spring Z 2, tending to pull upwardly on the projection Z. For causing the movement of the part L against the resistance of the spring Z, the arrangement shown in Figs. 3 and l may be employed. These show, laterally pro-. jecting at one side of the part L a lug Z which is properly shaped to cotiperate with a cam Z4 scoured upon the vertical spreader bar G. By such arrangement, the inswinging of the spreader by the oscillation of the bar Gr is accompanied by the co-action between cam Z and lug Z for swinging for- 3 and13 to the position of Figs. 4 and 6.

It should be stated that the cam 1*, which wardly the part L from the position of Figs.

Vance of the entry of the spreader into the thread-eye. The loop engaging tip M, and the needle backing surface N of the part L are shown located at the lower extremity of the downwardly extending arm L of the latter, so that they will have adequate forward and rearward movement to enable them to come to the operative position of Figs. 4 and 6 in the forward movement, and to withdraw in the rearward movement to the inoperative position of; Figs. 3 and 13, where the needle bar may pass the part L, as seen in Fig. 14:, without interference.

In the operative position of thepart L, as seen in Figs. 4, 6, and 7, the loop engaging tip M has entered the thread-eye just below} the needle, as the latter is ascending, and has.

even slightly widened'the eye preparatory to the entrance of the spreader therein, while the needle backing surface N has g be en brought into actual contact with theneedle so as to positively hold the needle against.

therear side to prevent rearward. deflection of the needle at the time the spreader enters the thread-eye for opening it and tipping it rearwardly over the button. As shownin the several figures, the tip M is perforated at m by a hole sufficiently large to admit the needles passage, for a purpose that will hereinafter appear.

Having thus indicated in a. general way the purpose and arrangement of the needle,

the spreader, the loop engager, and; the

needle backer, I will now proceed to describe in detail the referred operation of. the

- parts in attaching :a button. In such de- "scription reference will be had not to the actual contours of the Op rating cams, but

to the diagram'thereof shown in Fig. 18

and to the actual positions ofthe parts in Figs. 6 to 14, fromwhich those skilled in the art will. be enabled to' i'eadily designthe cams and operating scorin'ctions;

For the attachment of each. button, the needle first desoendsiand penetrates the fabric. At 0 in the diagram, 18, the needle is shown descending-f Th'full line indicates the needle movements, the left incline re ferring to a down movement, and vice versa. The dotted line in the diagram refers to the spreader movement, a right-hand incline indicating an inward swinging, and vice versa. The broken, or dot and dash line indicates the movement of the part L, a left inc-line referring to a forward swinging, and vice versa. At the point 2, the needle has reached its lowest position beneath the fabric, where it pauses while the looper feeds the thread;

loop thereto. The needle next ascends to its highest position indicated at point 5 in the diagram, it having then drawn a thread loop through the work and through the but-" novaeoa indicated at point 8, where the looper feeds the secondary thread loop to the needle. Thereupon, about point 9the needle again rises until it attains its highest position.

the point 10, of the diagram before the spreader is completely swung inward and while the needle is still rising. This stage of the parts is shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The part L is forward, thus backing up the needle and engaging the thread loop; the needle has not finished rising; the spreader has not yet entered the loop. At point 10.5 the needle has reached its highest position and the spreader has been swung completely in- Ward, thus entering the properly positioned -:thread-eye. "This stage is indicated in Fig. 8

and is maintained on the diagram to point 12. Thereupon, the needle dips, passiifg through aperture m of the engager M and alsp through the open center of the spreader. This movement is for the purpose of disengaging the loop from the needle and putting it upon the spreader in a manner well understood. It is also understood that the needle cast-off coiiperates in this operation by remaining elevated during the needles descent, so as to uncover the needles hook and permit the casting off of the loop. To facilitate the casting ofi of the loop, the spreader slightly withdraws, as indicated. Figs. 9, 10 and 11 indicate these operations, the needle having dipped in Fig. 9, the spreader withdrawn slightly in Fig. 10, and the needle having risen in Fig. 11. The spreader has thus taken'possession' of the thread loop. The spreader thereupon again swings inwardly to its full extent-and is tipped downwardly, thus shedding the loop over the button, as indicated in Fig. 12, this'operation being completed at point 16 on the diagram. Thereupon, the spreader swings completely outward to withdrawnposition,

- and simultaneously the part L swings downwardly to withdrawn position, as indicated between 16 and 17 on the diagram. This coinpletes the attachment ofthe button, save for the taking up of the thread to tighten the knot, and in this stage the parts will stand as indicated in Fig. 13. Thereafter, it will be understood that the work is fed for a distancebetween two buttons and the needle showing the loop to be properly maintained and also positioned, and 1n fact, slightly spread so as to insure that the spreader in every operation will properly enter the thread loop or eye. The utility of the needle backer M is indicated in the same figure, the needle backer serving to pre- 8; which, but for the backing up of the needle, would cause'slight distortion or strain such that when repeated many thousands of times would eventually distort orbreak the needle, or by its distortion cause. conflict with other parts, unreliable opera-.

tion, and perhaps serious breakage.

The loop .e'ngager being a part separate, and distinct from the spreader-may be ac-- curately calculated in its movements irrespective of the various spreader operations.:

For example, the loop .engager may be timed to enter the thread-eye, as stated, immedi ately beneath the needle point as the needle ascends, thus taking advantage of the full width of the thread-eye. The loop engager can be given the .most effective shape to serve this function. It will be noticed that 1 the engagers upper surface is inclined insuring the delivery of the thread loop, as seen in Fig. 10, to the spreader. It will also be noticed that, referring to the parts as seen in Fig. 6, the member L, when moved to the right to its operative position, gives to the needle a backing inaright-hand direction against deflection in an opposite or left-hand direction, andv that the tip of said member enters the thread loop on'the needle in the same direct-ion as such backing, namely, in a right-hand direction. lhe contacting of the needle, as shown, is along the same line as that in which'both the work feed and the spreader operate, although in an opposite direction.

By the above-described mechanism, it'will be seen that the objects and advantages referred to are attained, and other advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Since many specific matters of arrangement, form, combination, and detail may be varied indefinitely, it is intended not to restrict the statement of the present invention thereto, excepting as may be set forth in the appended claims.

hat- I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A machine for attaching by thread to the work buttons or like articles, including in combination, a reciprocable loop forming Y needle, a combined needle backing and loop engaging member adapted to be intermitthe Work buttons or like articles, including in combination, areciprocable loop forming needle, a combined needle backing and lo-p engaging member adapted to be inte mittently moved to the needle to give it backing in .a given direction against opposite deflection, and means to move said member to the needle to cause it to give such backing and to enter the thread loop on said needle means for relatively advancing the work while the loop is on the needle in a direction opposite to said backing. y

, 3. A .maehine.,,for attaching by thread to the work buttons or like articles, including in combination, a reciprocable loop forming needle, a combined needle backing and loop engaging member adapted to be intermit tently moved tothe needle to give it back ing in a given direct-ion against; opposite ,defiection, a spreader adapted to enter a thread loop while the loop is still engaged a button, and means to move said member to-the needle in advance of the spreaders operation to cause it to give such backing and to enter the thread loop on said needle in the same direction as said backing.

4. A machine for attaching by thread ,to the vvork buttons or like articles, including in combination, a reciprocable loop forming needle, acombined needle backing and loop engaging member adapted to be intermittently moved to the needle to give it'backing in a. given direction against opposite deflection, a' spreader adapted to enter a thread loop While the loop is still engaged upon the means to move said member to the needle in advance of the spreaders operation to cause it to give such backing and to enter the thread loop on said needle, and means for causing the spreader to enter the loop oppositely to said backing after said member has engaged a loo-p but before the needle and loop are disengaged.

5. A machine for attaching by thread to the Work buttonsor like articles, including in combination, a reciprocable loop forming needle, a combined needle backing and loop engaging member adapted to be intermittently moved to the needle to give 1t backing in a given direction against opposite deflection, a spreader adapted to enter a thread loop While the loop is still engaged upon the needle and to spread the loop over a button, means to move said member to the needle in advance of the spreaders operation to cause it to give such backing and to enter the thread loop on said needle in the same direction as said backing, and means to operate the spreader while both said member and the needle are engaged with the loop to enter the loop oppositely to the aforesaid given direction. I

in the same direction as said backing, and

needle and to spread the loop over a button,

upon the needle and to spread the loop over 6. A machine for attaching by thread to the work buttons or like articles, including in combination, a reciprocable loop forming needle, a combined needle backingand loop engaging member adapted to be intermittently moved to the needle to give it backing in a given direction against opposite deflection, a spreader adapted to enter a thread loop while the loop is still engaged upon the needle and to spread the loop OVGr a button, means to move said member to the needle in advance of the spreaders operation to cause it to give such backing and to enter the thread loop on said needle in the same direction as said backing, and means to operate the spreader while both said member and the needle are engaged with the loop to enter the loop oppositely to the aforesaid given direction; said combined member comprising a needle backing surface and a loop engaging tip formed directly at said surface.

7. -A machine for attachin by thread to needle, a combined needle backing and loop engaging member adapted to be intermittently moved to the needle to give it backing in a given direction against opposite defiection, a spreader adapted to enter a thread loop while the loop is still engaged upon the needle and to spread the loop over a button, means tomove said member to the needle in advance of the spreaders operation to cause it to give such backing and to enter the thread loop on said needle in' the same direction as said backing, and means to operate the spreader while both said member CHRISTIAN T. HAGELSTEIN.

Witnesses:

E. PAUL SoHoLz, FREDERIG W. DAVISON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

' Washington, D. 0. 

